MELBOURNE, Fla. (Feb 11, 2010) – More than 100 community and business leaders from throughout the Space Coast cheered on US Airways’ return to Melbourne International Airport Thursday with the arrival of the first of 21 weekly flights from the airline’s hub in Charlotte, N.C.

US Airways, which last flew regularly scheduled service to Melbourne International in 1997, is now offering three nonstop flights daily between Melbourne and Charlotte. It is the second airline to begin service to Melbourne International this month. Direct Air of Myrtle Beach, S.C., launched service from Melbourne to Niagara Falls, N.Y., and to Punta Gorda on Feb. 4, joining Delta Air Lines, which flies to Atlanta.

Thursday’s celebration marking US Airway’s arrival included a traditional water-canon welcome as the plane taxied to the gate, music from Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band and an appearance by Miss Florida 2009 Rachael Todd, who helped guests pinpoint their dream destinations on a 4-by-8-foot US Airways route map.